“Being nervous is okay! It’s a good sign, it means you’re taking this seriously.” The holy man offered him a smile, reached over to squeeze his arm. Just enough contact to offer a little comfort, then moved to what seemed like his resting position, hands clasped on top of the table.
“What I would ask of you, is to remember that it took a great deal of courage to approach me in the first place. I think you should take a moment to acknowledge that bravery. But,” He reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a folded piece of paper, words gently glowing from the other side. Scripture, etched with filament. “I would never ask anything of you that I’m not willing to do myself.” He unfolded the paper, the light reflecting in his eyes. “A moment then, for a blessing.”
“Light of creation, bless us in our imperfect wisdom.” The filament grew brighter, words on the page searing as he read them.
“Radiate through this space, that all temptation may be purged and that we may devote ourselves further to all that shines in this world.” Tattoos down his arm and chest glowed bright enough to be visible through his priest’s vestments.
A fervor took hold of his voice. “Gleam upon the truth until it is all that remains.”
As the last word burned, a shimmer glistened like a collar around his neck. Wicander closed his eyes and leaned into the feeling, basking in the remnants of magic that lingered in the air. He sighed, smiled, as he saw a similar shimmer at Victor’s neck as well. Scrolls had taken some getting used to, it was his first time doing this without someone else there to make sure he was reading it right.
He discarded the burnt scraps of paper and settled, feeling a tingling at his throat as he spoke. “There, I’ve called a blessing over us, that only truth may be spoken here. It helps the ceremony to be entirely honest, and I hope it brings you a little comfort to know I’m taking this journey with you.”
“Now, don’t feel ashamed if you accidentally say something you only meant to think. I’ve heard it all, and I won’t be offended, I promise. Anything you say here is offered up to Illumination, not to me. I won’t get you in trouble if you were to confess any wrongdoing, unless of course someone would be in danger if I didn’t.”